Bedstead-support for couch-hammocks.



I. E. PALMER.

BEDSTBAD SUPPORT FOR GOUOH HAMMOGKS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 1, 1911.

Patented June 25,1912.

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I Invenieir: Isaac EPaZmer,

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I. E. PALMER.

BEDSTEAD SUPPORT FOR GOUOH HAMMOGKS.

' APPLICATION FILED DEC. 1, 1911. 1,030,486. Patented June 25, 1912.

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IINIIED STATES PATENT OFFICE..-

ISAAC E. PALMER, OF IVIIDDLETOVN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOB TO THE I. E. PALMER CO., OF MIDDLETOWN, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

BEDSTEAD-SUPPORT FOR COUCH-HAMMOCKS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 25, 1912.

Original application filed September 11, 1911, Serial No. 648,682. Divided and this application filed December 1, 1911.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ISAAC E. PALMER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Middletown, in the county of Middlesex and State of Connecticut, have invented an Improvement in Bedstead-Supports for Couch-Hammocks, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

This application is a division of my copending application No. 648,682, filed September 11, 191.1.

This invention relates to bedstead supports for couch hammocks.

In order that the principle of the invention may be readily understood, I have disclosed certain embodiments thereof in the accompanying drawing, wherein- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a couch hammock support provided with means to support a couch hammock frame as a bed structure; Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a detail in plan of the supporting brackets shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the bracket shown in Fig. 3 in binding relation with a leg of the couch hammock support; Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are detail views of one form of means for securing the couch hammock frame to the support; Figs. 8, 9 and 10 are details of a modified form of means for supporting the couch hammock as a bed structure upon the couch hammock support; Figs. 11 and 12 are details of another form of means for the same purpose; Fig. 13 is an end elevation of a couch hammock and its support and representing still another form of means for supporting the couch hammock as a bed structure; Figs. 14 and 15 are respectively a plan View and a side elevation partially in section of such form of support; and Figs. 16, 17 and 18 are respectively a side elevation partially in section, an end elevation and a plan view of still another form of my invention.

My invention comprehendt means for sup porting a couch hammock frame in such manner as to render it a bed structure yet readily permitting the couch hammock to be used as such. In other words, the couch hammock embodying my invention may, in accordance with the disclosed embodiments not herein necessary to describe.

thereof, be readily employed either as a couch hammock or as a bed structure.

In accordance with the preferred embodiment of my invention, the support for the hammock is generally similar to that shown in my couch hammock support patents, such, for example, as Patent No. 641,033, said support being provided with means to receive and rigidly to hold the couch hammock frame and other parts as a bed structure or to suspend the hammock in the usual manner, but to provide means cooperating with the frame to prevent substantial swinging movement thereof. In other words, the couch hammock support is provided with the usual or other desired means for suspending the hammock and with auxiliary means for supporting it as a bed structure or substantially limiting its swinging or swaying movement while still permitting it to be suspended.

In Figs. 1 and 2, I have represented a couch hammock support of the general type shown in my Patent No. 641,033, and preferably composed of a back bone or ridge pole 1, to which are secured with capacity for longitudinal adjustment legs 2 at each end, being hinged at 3 in the usual manner The said support is provided at each end with a hook or other means 4 from which'the hammock is adapted to be suspended when used as such. In order,however, to permit the hammock to be used as a bed structure,that is, in order rigidly to support it instead of suspending it as described, I provide cross bars 5 connecting each pair of legs 2 and thereon position the end members 6 of the couch hammock frame. Any suitable means may be provided to secure the cross bars 5 to the legs 2 of the support, and any suitable means may be provided to secure the couch hammock frame to said cross bars. I have herein shown certain simple forms of means for accomplishing this result. As shown most clearly in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, I provide castings or brackets 7 of a general sleeve like form adapted to be slipped over the lower ends of the legs 2 to the proper height to support the cross bars 5. Each bracket or sleeve 7 is pinned as indicated at 8 to the adjacent end of a cross bar 5, and the weight of the couch hammock frame 6 causes the opposite inner faces of the sleeves 7 to bind against the outer faces of the legs 2, as indicated most clearly in Fig. 4, thus holding the cross bars 5 at the desired elevation, which obviously can be changed as desired.

In Figs. 5, 6 and 7, I have represented one simple form of means for connecting the couch hammock frame to the cross bars 5. Therein I provide a suitable number of straps of leather or other suitable material 9, each encircling a cross bar 5 and having secured thereto a hook 10 adapted partially to encircle the overlying end member of the couch hammock frame 6. The strap 9 is provided with the usual buckle and when secured inposition the co-acting straps at the opposite ends, by reason of said hooks 10, prevent endwise movement of the couch hammock frame wit-l1 respect to the cross bars 5. Obviously, any other suitable means may be employed to secure the couch hammock frame to the cross bars 5.

In Figs. 8, 9 and 10, I have shown a simple form of means for securing the cross bar 5 to that type of hammock support consisting of wooden legs 2 each formed of a single piece split from the upper end to a point relatively adjacent the lower end, for example, to substantially the point 11 in Fig. 1, it being understood that the line 12 appear ing below said points 11 constitute a mere superficial groove.

In that form of my invention shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 10, I providela unitary bracket 13 having an arm 14 adapted to be positioned in the slit between the two parts of a leg 2 and having at its outer end a foot 15 to bear against the outer face of the leg 2. Said bracket 13 is also provided with a foot 16 to bear against the inner face of said leg and with a horizontal flange 17 to receive one end of the cross bar 5. The weight of the cross bar 5 and of the hammock causes the feet 15, 16 to bind against the inner and outer faces of the leg 2, thereby firmly holding the bracket at the base of the grooved portion of the leg 2.

Couch hammock supports are frequently made with tubular metallic legs, such as indicated at 18 in Fig. 12. In order to adapt the cross bars 5 to such type of couch hammock support, I preferably provide sleeve like brackets composed of two similar members 19, 19 bolted together as indicated at 20 in Figs. 11 and 12, and provided with a flange 21 to receive a cross bar 5. Obviously any other suitable means may be provided to support the cross bars 5 upon the legs of the hammock support.

Inasmuch as the legs 2 of the couch hammock support are adjustable along the back bone 1, it is evident that the cross bars 5 may be adjusted toward and from each other self-supporting by being caused to bind as described upon the legs, or they may rest at their lower edges upon the tying members 22.

In Figs. 13, 14 and 15, I have shown a slightly modified form of means for supporting a couch hammock frame from the legs of the hammock support and preferably involving the omission of the cross bars 5. For that purpose I provide brackets generally similar to those shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 10, and each having a body portion 23 from which extend a foot 24 to engage the outer face of the leg and also a foot 25 to engage the inner face thereof, the web or body portion 23 passing through the slotted portion of the leg as previously described. The web 23 is provided with a lower inclined portion 26 extending to the angle formed at the inner edge of the side and end members of the frame. Said portion 26 is there upturned as indicated at 27 to form a pin like portion preferably snugly resting in the said corner or angle of the frame, thus permitting the lower faces of the members of the frame to bear upon said portion 26 as shown in Fig. 15. Preferably the portion 26' is depressed as indicated at 28 for the reception of the transverse strips customarily secured to the under side of the end members of the frame. It is evident that this form of securing means may readily be adapted to a hammock support having tubular legs instead of split wooden legs, shown in Fig. 13. The brackets in this form of my invention are made right and left, so as to support the frame at the four corners thereof.

In certain forms of my invention, but more particularly in that form of my invent-ion shown in Figs. 13, 14 and 15, the hammock 29 may be suspended from the hooks 4 or other suitable suspension means, and the frame may rest upon the brackets so as to support the hammock frame as a bed structure. Or if the suspension means of the hammock are not of sufficient length to permit the couch hammock frame to restupon said brackets then the projetcions 27 of the brackets may be engaged by the inner angles of the frame, or be positioned within and close enough thereto so that although the frame is suspended above the flat portion of the brackets, yet it is substantially confined from swaying movement.

In Figs. 16, 17 and 18, I have represented a still further form of my invention wherein are shown brackets generally similar to to extend partially around the leg as indicated at 31. If desired, I may form a prolongation from said foot to enter into the slitted portion of the leg. The body portion 28 is provided wit-h a transversely extending member 32 extending underneath but preferably clear of the lower face of the frame. At its inner end, the member 32 is provided with an upturned or pin like portion 33 extending to the upper face of the hammock frame and there formed as a hook 3 1:, so as to overlie the upper face of the frame and engage the same or spaced thereabove as desired. The said hook portion 34 engages or overlies the side member 35 of the frame as indicated in Fig. 18, and said bracket is also provided with an upwardly extending projection 36 to engage the outer edge of the end member 37 of the frame, as indicated in Fig. 18. Vhile the said bracket may be attached in any suitable manner to the leg, I preferably provide it with a slot 38, through which extends a strap 39 adapted to pass about the leg and secure the bracket thereto.

The form of bracket shown in Figs. 16, 17 and 18 is particularly intended to prevent simply the swaying movements of the hammock without rigidly supporting the same, although obviously if desired the frame may rest rigidly thereon. The upstanding portions of the bracket may engage the adjacent parts of the frame tightly, or with some lost motion if desired.

It is evident from the foregoing description that I have provided simple yet effective means for supporting a couch hammock frame as a bed structure by rigidly supporting the frame, substantially eliminating swaying movement thereof. It is evident that the couch hammock frame is substantially held against movement in every direction.

Having thus described one illustrative embodiment of my invention, I desire it to be understood that although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the following claims.

Claims:

1. As an article of manufacture, a bracket adapted for attachment to an'upright p0rtion of a couch hammock support, said" bracket having a support-penetrating web or arm 14:, and a frame-corner-supporting or positioning portion.

2. As an article of manufacture, a bracket adapted for attachment to an upright portion of a couch hammock support, said bracket having a supportpenetrating web provided with a support-engaging foot, said bracket also having a frame-corner-supporting or positioning portion.

3. As an article of manufacture, a bracket adapted for attachment to an upright portion of a couch hammock support, said bracket having a support engaging portion and connected, spaced members adapted to extend along both the upper and the lower faces of a couch hammock frame end.

1. As an article of manufacture, a bracket adapted for attachment to an upright portion of a couch hammock support, said bracket having a support-engaging portion, a substantially horizontal frame positioning portion provided with an upright pin member to enter a hammock frame corner, and an angularly extending portion to overlie the couch hammock frame.

5. In combination, a couch hammock supporting leg split from its upper end downwardly for a portion of its length, and a frame-supporting bracket having a web adapted to be inserted in said split portion of the leg and having a projection to receive and position an end portion of the couch hammock frame.

6. In combination, an end upright for supporting a couch hammock frame and a bracket attachable thereto provided with a frame supporting projection, and means to secure said bracket interchangeably and independently to the said upright with its said project-ion in supporting engagement with the suspended hammock frame or in positioning relation adjacent thereto.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ISAAC E. PALMER.

WVitnesses:

JOHN E. MARTIN, GEO. C. HAINs.

Cepiesof this patent may be obtained. for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

